BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — The Bakersfield Condors on Friday held their home-opener and also revealed their new division title banner, their first in ten years.
"It's the 22nd year of Bakersfield Condors professional hockey here in condors town, I think that's just amazing when you think about all the teams that have come and gone and to have hockey here for 22 years with the condors and 25 years going back to the fog is just tremendous," said Ryan Holt, the Condors broadcast announcer.
The Bakersfield Condors rang in the season with nearly 6,000 fans crowding into the newly-named Mechanics Bank Arena. The Condors scoring two goals early on. Their opponents were the San Diego gulls, who eliminated the Condors in the second round of the playoffs last season.
"We were at that game and it sucked so it's cool to be back and watch them get two early goals so we're right on," Shawn Johnson, who attended the home opener.
"That was a great playoff series, seven overtime periods in six games, I mean it was nuts. So it's cool to have them back in the building here for opening night. Chance for retribution and a chance to get things back and rolling," Holt said.
Earlier this year the condors finished up a historic regular-season, winning a franchise-record 42 games and achieving a 17 games win streak, the second-longest in AHL history.
"It's just awesome being here for the banner drop and watching everything, you know, the first game and night is always the funnest," Johnson said.
Because of the condors stellar performance last year, many fans have high hopes for 2019 and 2020.
"I think the condors are going to go all the way this season, we got a good team, got a good coach, great staff behind them it's gonna be good," said Condors fan Phil Giugliano.
The condors won Friday's game with a score of 2-1. They next take on the Ontario Reign at Mechanics Bank Arena Saturday at 7 p.m.
